Vile, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how my group handles it. I started them in the death house, and our 3rd session will be the very end of it. There have already been a few freak out moments of stuff in there, rest of the campaign should be fun. I'll be surprised if they defeat Strahd. I have a feeling the Tiefling might be lured to him.

Doc, I assume you've had the books now, what is your impression of it? I have to say, I still have this moments my brain tells me not to like it, and there are still a few things that turn me off, but overall, I've had a blast running and playing it, and I find it is just things I think about when I'm not playing. Not issues that actually come up in play.

Doc, I assume you've had the books now, what is your impression of it? I have to say, I still have this moments my brain tells me not to like it, and there are still a few things that turn me off, but overall, I've had a blast running and playing it, and I find it is just things I think about when I'm not playing. Not issues that actually come up in play.

Only got the PHB for now.... my brain hurts A LOT in certain parts of it...... I don't see the point in the "customisation" chapter at all.... parts of the combat chapter ... to me, the way it is written seem overly complicated.

As for character generation itself, it seems so overly backwards. Deciding on race and class BEFORE you assign the abilityscores? Weird as anything.

BUT, I've yet to actually try it out in practice, some of the things might make better sense once I've actually tried it instead of just read about it.

Doc, I assume you've had the books now, what is your impression of it? I have to say, I still have this moments my brain tells me not to like it, and there are still a few things that turn me off, but overall, I've had a blast running and playing it, and I find it is just things I think about when I'm not playing. Not issues that actually come up in play.

Only got the PHB for now.... my brain hurts A LOT in certain parts of it...... I don't see the point in the "customisation" chapter at all.... parts of the combat chapter ... to me, the way it is written seem overly complicated.

As for character generation itself, it seems so overly backwards. Deciding on race and class BEFORE you assign the abilityscores? Weird as anything.

BUT, I've yet to actually try it out in practice, some of the things might make better sense once I've actually tried it instead of just read about it.

There's a chapter on feats (replacing stat increases) and multi-classing, which I think is the only customisation thing. However, within each class there is also specialisation at 3rd level, where characters diverge. Of course backgrounds also allow you to individualise - oddly it rarely pays (in powergamer terms) to have an appropriate background to your class because abilities are often duplicated.

Yeah, I'm assuming Doc was referring to Backgrounds. They're basically there to help give you an idea of your character when you start play. They also give you some skills, tool proficiency, equipment. It's easy enough to make your own as well, or ignore them completely if you want. Feats are also easily ignored, but the feats aren't really like 3rd edition feasts, and there aren't very many.

It is sad that using the background related to your class (for instance Bard & Entertainer in the instance of the character I'm currently playing) isn't terribly useful. I did it for the RP anyway though.

I have let a 5E Life Battle Cleric into my current campaign, and while the cleric has been helpful, it is too helpful, it is massively over abilitied with all kinds of Cures, that it is almost pointless to bother rolling dice. It is like the 2E Thief that they fudged up so much that it is pointless to roll dice for his ability checks. Thus taking the gaming out of the game, and any challenge as well, sigh.

One thing that's hard to get used to in 5E for some DMs is that you can play the monsters pretty smart without totally overwhelming the players. If a particular character is effective, you can bet their opponents will notice their competency and react accordingly. I've been playing 5E since the playtest and, while there are some powerful combos, they tend to be one-dimensional and relatively easy to deal with once you get the hang of it.

One thing that's hard to get used to in 5E for some DMs is that you can play the monsters pretty smart without totally overwhelming the players. If a particular character is effective, you can bet their opponents will notice their competency and react accordingly. I've been playing 5E since the playtest and, while there are some powerful combos, they tend to be one-dimensional and relatively easy to deal with once you get the hang of it.

A clever DM could always exploit a character's weakness. You have a high-level cleric? Oops, that vampire has a ring of turning protection.

Ooops.... just ordered the DMG as well..... another 6 months and I'll have the Monsters Manual.... getting the three core books for something silly like £20 instead of £80? Nopes, I is not gonna complain

and if any potential real life group (as opposed to, VoIP/internet) wonders about the many monsters I throw in.... well 2nd Ed DID have a massive well of Monstrous Compendiums.... *whistles innocently*

Have to say though... the Combat chapter in the NeXT PHB makes me hurt. A LOT!!!!

Right... I've had the book (NeXT DMG) in me hands and skimmed through it for a couple of days now.... It's a really nice book, and does a very good job of trying to help me run a game. I'm disappointed though... it doesn't give me any imagination, I have to find that somewhere else...

Right... I've had the book (NeXT DMG) in me hands and skimmed through it for a couple of days now.... It's a really nice book, and does a very good job of trying to help me run a game. I'm disappointed though... it doesn't give me any imagination, I have to find that somewhere else...

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